The revelations mean both men charged with Mr McEwen's attack were on bail or court-imposed conditions when the assault occurred at a Bondi bus stop on December 14.

Mr McEwen's father, Robert, said the conditions for granting bail should be reviewed if his son's alleged attacker was on bail when the attack happened.

''If that's the case, I think the bail conditions need to be tightened up,'' Robert McEwen told Channel 10. ''We always knew an arrest would be made - it was just a matter of time.''

His son was in hospital again on Saturday undergoing more surgery. ''They replaced his skull and they had to screw that piece back in and they had to attach the muscles on the side of his face,'' the father said.

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On Saturday, Gosford Local Court heard new details about the ''coward's punch'' assault that left Mr McEwen, 23, in an induced coma, becoming the latest casualty in a spate of alcohol-fuelled violence.

Mr McEwen and other victims of one-punch assaults were the focus of a community campaign forcing NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell, to bring in sweeping changes to state licensing laws last month.

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Campaigners included the families of 18-year-olds Thomas Kelly and Daniel Christie, who died after attacks in Kings Cross, in July 2012 and December 31 last year. New conditions included mandatory sentences for one-punch attacks and laws to make pubs close at 3am.

The man who appeared in Gosford court was charged with hitting Mr McEwen with his elbow or fist as Mr McEwen held his arms out with his palms up to avoid confrontation.

Mr McEwen was knocked unconscious and fell backwards to the ground, hitting his head. He was in an induced a coma for a week and required two operations.

Documents show the man - who cannot be named as he was a juvenile when the curfew was imposed - was supposed to stay at home between 8pm and 7am as he awaited sentencing. Under strict bail conditions imposed by Bidura Local Court, the man was not allowed to leave the house unless he was with his mother or his employer, and was prohibited from drinking alcohol or being in a licensed premises.

The police facts sheet states: ''Through his own admissions [he] has a problem with alcohol.''

On December 16 - two days after the attack on Mr McEwen - the man was sentenced to 15 months in jail on a reckless wounding charge.

In an earlier court appearance, it was revealed that his co-accused, Jamie Ennis, 24, was already on bail at the time for a near-identical assault in Bondi in September.

The man, from Bondi, was formally refused bail at Gosford Local Court, with a police statement showing many run-ins with the law. Previous charges include affray, assaulting police, use of offensive weapon with intent to commit indictable offence, driving unlicensed, and goods in custody.

Police allege the man and Ennis had drinks at a Bondi bar until 1am, when they were kicked out after an altercation The pair then went to a kebab shop where they allegedly argued with strangers and staff before leaving about 1.40am.

Police allege Ennis began a verbal altercation with Mr McEwen, who was walking to the bus shelters on Campbell Parade.

Police say the altercation turned violent when Ennis ripped off Mr McEwen's shirt, before a witness held him back to stop him attacking Mr McEwen further.